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Gary Weeks & Co. - Furnituremakers

Craftsmanship

In the body of this website we have a Craftsmanship Section.  It's deep. It answers the questions below and more:

  • What makes a handmade rocking chair different from those that are mass-produced?
  • Are handmade rocking chairs worth the cost and worthy of investment?
  • What woods make the best rocking chairs?
  • What do you look for and how do you evaluate joinery, wood, finish, ergonomics?

There is a subsection on How We Make a Rocking Chair and pages on Mortise and Tenon, Finishing, the organization of the shop, and more.

We are dedicated.  Our patrons notice and often write about it.

Wonderful rocker Gary! I spent my life as a potter in Stowe Vermont and I am very critical about hand crafted anything — You are the best I've ever come across and I thank you.

J.

Well, the chair arrived yesterday. It is about as perfect as I could imagine. I rocked for hours yesterday feeling the silkiness of the wood in absolute awe of your magnificent artistry. In fact now my husband wants one and he isn't even a rocker! I am also contemplating getting the Otwell table in cherry and maybe the shorter Berry barstool stool as that might be great for playing my cello. Do you think it would be good for that? I need to sit forward to play. I love the simplicity of the chair. Maybe it comes in mesquite!! Watch out I might become a regular!!

Love, love , love your work!!!!!!!!

Happy that you and yours enjoy mine too . . . talk to you soon.

best,
I.

Hi Gary,

I wanted to let you know that I received my rocker this morning, and I just love it. It is not only a beautiful work of craftsmanship, but a work of art, in my humble opinion. And it is so comfortable.

Regards,
J.

A truck showed up at sunset. No damage.

The rocker and stool are works of art. Comfort is superb. Placement of wood grain is like the grain was painted on. We could not be happier. D. was speechless when she saw it (tears). I feel like a guy who just caught a 10 pound trout. Thank you all . . .

Your bold confidence is now modesty in comparison to your rocker. Well done.

Greatest appreciation,
G.

Hi Gary,

The rocker arrived in perfect condition. It is gorgeous, a real work of art. After we unboxed it, we spent a lot of time just looking at it and touching it. Fits me perfectly, no pressure points on my back. It was also interesting for me to see how L. truly "gets it" regarding the chair's design and quality, as she pointed out all the fine details most people would not notice. I believe you have achieved perfection with this rocker, I wouldn't change anything. Except for maybe offering the mesquite for the same price as walnut ;)

Regards,
K.

Hi Gary,

The chair arrived today. It is gorgeous! Love the color and smooth sanding. Looks like it was carved out of marble but more complicated angles so refined and the way the angles catch the light or the light enhances the subtle angles. I love the details and angles and curves. So sculptural. This should be on the cover of Sports Illustrated or Fine Woodworking magazine. I love the front columns the size, tapered and sculpted column like quality of them and the way the seat fits into them, it is stunning. Can't stop touching it. I will be working on wood tripods today but I think my eyes will be on the chair.

Thank-you. It arrived in perfect condition.
L.

Hi Gary,

I wanted to let you know that the rocker and foot stool arrived here unscathed on Tuesday afternoon.
I got home late, and didn't get a chance to unpack it until yesterday. Now that it's all unpacked and my family has had a chance to use it a bit, I want to echo all the great feedback you've gotten from your other customers.

Starting with the quality of the pieces, the craftsmanship is superb. If nothing else, having such finely made work in our home is truly a pleasure. The selection and matching of the cherry for the different elements in both pieces adds to the obvious care that was taken in the design and workmanship.

But there's more. My family's body shapes and sizes cover a wide range, from my son (6'1", 145 lbs, "This feels great on my back!"), to my wife (5'10", 1(mfph$&@) lbs, "mmm, very comfy."), to me (6'1", 275 lbs, "ahhh"), and we all love how functional and comfortable the chair is.

The rocker and foot stool will be a well-used, cherished pieces in our home for many years. Thank you.

Best regards,
R.

Gary,

J.'s rocker arrived as you said in your note. Everything was just fine. We especially enjoyed the hand and foot decoration by your young one on the carton. ;-)

I am a potter by avocation (with some woodworking thrown in). I have always been interested in the integration of form and function, aesthetic and utility, in creating pots and other things. Your chair does so exceptionally well. I can see the attention to detail in both design and execution. A beautiful, can't keep my hands off it rocking chair. Deceptively simple, perfectly executed. Nicely done!

True to your web site, the chair fit everyone in the family, ranging from a small 5'2" to a tall 6'2", whether simply rocking or holding little S. and rocking him to sleep.

We are all delighted. Thank you!

R.

Dear Mr. Weeks,

I love the chair! It is really a testament to the craftsmanship and pride of your artisans. Please thank them for creating such a wonderfully usable work of art.

Warmest wishes for the season,
J.

Hello Gary,

Just to let you know the side table arrived and according to the family report it is beautiful beautiful beautiful and the quality, as is the rocker, exceptional.
Gold star on the achievement chart!!
The box it was packed in was of more interest to the grandchild & dog.

Regards,
J.

Hi Gary,

Yes, everything arrived in time for the Thanksgiving break. I don't really know what to say except everything is just great. The nicely figured seats on the Rocker and the Harris stool are a special treat. People who have been over to the house and have seen the furniture are just as speechless as I am. I just can't believe how comfortable it is each time I sit in it. Most folks have never seen (and unfortunately most never will see) such well crafted furniture. Luckily for some of us, you have figured out how to make and sell these items at a price that is accessible – a remarkable value for the price. Lastly, I have to comment on the Otwell side table with shelf — I think it is a real beauty and perfectly proportioned. My wife says that "it's just perfect" (it is located on her end of the couch).

Thank you and your team for the fine furniture,
N.

Hello Everyone —

Just wanted to let my whole family know that the wonderful gift you gave me on my birthday arrived at our home yesterday. It came on a truck and was boxed as if it was the lost ark from "Raiders". Once opened, I knew why. Truly, it is now the most beautiful piece of furniture we have in our home or in Willowbrook for that matter. I've never seen such a work of art like this chair. You can tell that someone spent an awful lot of time and effort into creating such a piece. It's absolutely beautiful, and as comfortable as a leather sofa. Thank-You all very, very much. I can¹t wait to sit in it as I watch A. pace back and forth in the room to try and get the baby to sleep!

Thanks Again,
J.

Thanks for the email, Gary. Very much enjoying the chair. Beautiful piece. Lovely where it sits in the most prominent spot in our house and comfortable to boot. Thanks for your very careful and precise work. I enjoy it every time I look at the chair. Haven't gotten that first ding just yet. I know it's coming, but for now it still looks like it just came from the shop.

Nap of the rug sends it North a bit, but that's OK.

The whole event inspired me to get my shop back in order. Spent most of Thanksgiving on that project. Had a great time and rediscovered all that stuff I have. I'm not fully back in business yet, but the shop is functional again. Just to prove it I finished a chair I had been neglecting for literally a couple of years.

Looking forward to coming out and visiting again.

Best,
A.

Dear Gary — the rocker arrived not long after we spoke and I was on the phone with the shipper. It is a gift for my wife from her children. She is thrilled by it, as am I. It would be a great addition to our house even if no one ever sat in it! Just to look at it or touch it brings a smile of pleasure. I'll give you an update on the joy of sitting in it once I gain some experience.

Thanks so much!

R.

Dear Gary and Austin,

I unwrapped the chair first thing this morning and was absolutely stunned! I could not be more pleased with the craftsmanship, the design, and the comfort. The back support is just right, and everyone who has sat in it feels it must have been made for them alone. The wood is beautiful, and you captured the grain perfectly! I thank you both, and hope you will pass along my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed in creating my chair.

I am trained as an engineer and tend to favor function over form, much to the dismay of my daughters (ages 19 and 22), who are both talented artists and take the opposite view. When I first sat in the chair I was reminded of the quote from William Morris: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." The Weeks rocker is a sublime combination of aesthetics and function that satisfies both conditions perfectly. I have already promised to buy each a Weeks rocker of their own when they establish their own households in a few years. (So don't go and retire any time soon, please . . .)

I am attaching a photo, and I'm sure you will agree that the rocker has found an absolutely ideal place to be treasured (and shown off!).

Thanks again,

B.

P.S. Please let Bela know how pleased I was to find her beautiful drawing atop the carton this morning. I am sending a thank you to her in the mail on Monday . . .

Hello Gary.

The chair and stool were just delivered. My wife is very pleased and they look great in our nursery. Both the stool and chair are beautiful; you are a true craftsman. The wood stock is gorgeous and the finish immaculate. Thank you, Leslie and the rest of your team for your hard work and excellent customer service.

Time permitting, I will give you more thoughts after spending more time rocking.

Until then, take care.

D.

Gary,

Thanks so much for checking in. It did, indeed, arrive today, in perfect condition, while we are still waiting for Miss J. You have been tremendously helpful in working around my due date.

The rocker has the elegant lines and beautiful grain/smoothness I expected. I am delighted with how comfortable it is as well. Like many others in the review section, I fell asleep yesterday afternoon while testing it out.

Sleep, of late, has not been easy to come by, so this was pretty amazing. My significant other has been amused by how excited I've been about the arrival of this chair. This made it all the more gratifying when, after I made him sit down to try it, he didn't budge for almost an hour. He has a bad back, and really enjoyed the fit of the rocker. You have a new convert. He was also extremely impressed with the workmanship and agrees that this is the loveliest piece of furniture we own.

Have a great rest of the summer and I'm sure we'll be back for a matching rocker before too long, perhaps if/when number two is coming along.

S.

Gary,

We received the rocker yesterday, the same day we brought our baby boy home from the hospital — perfect timing! The rocker is absolutely beautiful and our little one has already enjoyed a number of rocking sessions in it — he's a fan too!

Thank you again for getting the rocker to us early, and of course, for the amazing craftsmanship that went into building it! It will be treasured in our family for years to come.

Blessings to you and your family,
M.G.

I received the shipment. The chair, etc., are beautiful; works of art. Thank you very much.

V.

Gary,

Every morning I sit in my rocker and rock gently as I start my day with a cup of coffee. It is so very beautiful, and everyone who comes in our home winds up sitting there and going into a kind of trance.

I'm sorry I haven't written sooner to thank you for creating it for our home, but I wanted to get some photographs taken of it to show you the space it occupies in our lives.

I love not only how it looks, how it feels to sit in it and lean my head back, but also the touch of it under my palms. The wood is silky and luscious to the touch and the motion takes me back to a very old place I don't even consciously remember.

It is my favorite piece of furniture in the whole house; thank you for sharing your art with us. I can tell it was made with love.

Peace,
R.

Gary: I've been meaning to send a note. Yes, it's here and arrived in perfect condition! I've rocked in it, napped in it and even played my ukelele in it. Comfortable and beautiful!! I'm looking forward to many years of enjoyment. Thanks for your craftsmanship!

L.

Hi Gary,

We received the stools, and rocker last night.

Everything was perfect, and we are extremely impressed with your workmanship and design.

Thank you for all your attention, and follow up.

We hope to order again in the future.

Best Regards,
E.

The eagle has landed.

By way of preliminary, please understand that I do not use superlatives. Superlatives are misused so much, they have lost their meaning. When a person characterizes something as "the best" of its kind, it makes me think the speaker has limited experience, or a small vocabulary, or is trying to sell you the thing being described. So here are my comments:

I like my new rocking chair. I like everything about it. Since it arrived, I have been sitting in my chair and smiling. The only reason I stood up is that I had to type this note on my computer. I am going back to my chair now. Woe to the person who makes me stand up again.

Thank you.
S.

Dear Gary,

I write to report that the delivery of my sister's new rocking chair was timely and that when unveiled on Christmas day was a great success! All marveled at the joinery, material, finish and ergonomics and greatly approved of the future heirloom. My nephew has visited his mom since Christmas just to pet the chair. Congratulations on the creation of this beautiful all-American work of art.

Yours,
R.

Gary:

The furniture is beautiful and complements the house in a rather stunning fashion.
R. and I are delighted with its looks and the craftsmanship it represents.
The delivery service was competent and the men courteous. All in all a terrific experience. Rest assured we will be back!

Thanks so much and Happy Holidays.
T. and R.

Wow!

No amount of web-surfing prepared me for the scale and presence of the chair. It's much more sculpted than I expected, and I'm delighted.

Ok, so no damage (kudos on your packing skills). The back splat is pretty dang incredible. And, as advertised, I like the sit. I suspect I'll love the sit soon enough . . .

Lastly, please thank Bela on my behalf for the lovely Christmas tree rendering on the box.

J.

Gary,

Every time I walk into the living room and see the new rocking chair, I smile. It's just so beautiful and elegant. And the walnut was well worth waiting for — it looks so deep and rich. Everyone who has seen it admired your extraordinary workmanship. It's also the most comfortable rocking chair I've ever sat in!

My husband hasn't seen his birthday present "in person" yet, but he's sussed out your web site and he thinks the rocker is simply gorgeous! I know he'll be as thrilled as I was when he does see it. I'll let you know.

I suppose it does take a leap of faith to order furniture on line from persons unknown, but clearly my trust was well placed. And you can be sure that when anyone admires our new rocking chair, I will tell him exactly where it comes from!

Please feel free to share my comments with those who work with you and anyone thinking about ordering your beautiful furniture. I expect they'd be as happy as I am with the purchase.

Thank you again and again.
L.

G'day Gary.

You beat me to an email.
I love my new rocking chair — thank you! It's just beautiful and very comfortable. What excellent workmanship. You should be proud.
Thank you again and I hope our paths cross soon.
Happy holidays to you and your family and all the best for the new year.

Cheers.
D.

Gary,

The rocker arrived in perfect shape today. It is exquisite. I particularly liked the art work on the box by . . . is it Bela? age 7? At any rate, a real bonus.

Thank you,
T.

It is very, very nice and of the highest quality. We will come see you when.
Thanks a lot. That rocker will have a special meaning and I look forward to making many more memories with its use over time.

R.

Gary,

The rocker arrived yesterday evening and I spent four hours in it. It's just beautiful. The joinery and satin finish on the wood are perfect and your artistry in design and construction as well as your craftsman's attention to detail is like nothing I've ever seen. Please pass on my compliments to everyone on your team that had a hand in this project. It is the finest piece of furniture in the house and will be an heirloom to be passed on to many generations in my family.

Very Sincerely and with my Best Regards,
M.

Dear Mr. Weeks,

We had a pleasant surprise, in advance, of receiving the chair this afternoon, which will allow us to enjoy it during this weekend.

The first impression is simply one word "marvelous".

I'll keep you updated on this rocker during the next few days.

Thank you for everything, including the inlay which is simply unique. An artist couldn't have done it better, since you are the best artist in this case.

Best to you and yours,
A.

Hi Gary,

The chair arrived at my mother's house this afternoon. I was there to receive it and I wanted to let you know that everything arrived safely.

I did unpack it to inspect it and give it a try and I have to say that it is everything that I expected. It is beautifully made and extremely comfortable. I almost didn't go back to work just so I could take a nap in it. My mother has an inexpensive mass produced rocker that I did a side by side comparision with just for kicks. There is no comparision.

I am looking forward to many years of enjoyment from this purchase. I know my wife and daughter (and I) will love it. Thank you for all of your help. Give my thanks to your staff as well. They do very, very nice work.

Warm regards,
M.

Yes, they received the chair with plaque and stool and were so surprised! They just love it and will indeed start making memories . . . she will have years of happy memories, I'm sure.

Thank you Gary for the nice woodwork that you and your staff do. I will surely recommend you to any and all.

Thank you again to you and your family.

Blessings,
K.

Dear Mr. Weeks,

About three or four years ago my uncle from Dallas visited our place in Western Oregon. We had a wonderful reunion and visit. He looked around and said, "What, no rocking chair? You need a good rocking chair someday."

Shortly after his visit you notified me to expect an arrival of a gift and the rocker arrived soon after that, impeccably crafted AND shipped.

My uncle died shortly thereafter and I have this wonderful rocking chair that we just love to have for many reasons. It is just the nicest gift we have ever received and I love to tell visitors who sent it, who made it, and how much it means to us.

I just thought I would pass this along to you, I congratulate you on your craft.

Best wishes sir,
H.

Gary

Sorry I have not written sooner. Been busy vacationing and celebrating. The chairs are beautiful and a big hit . . . The design, the wood and woodwork, the comfort . . . and the engravings! My wife loves them! I am a lucky man to have found you!

All the best,
S.

Gary,

I received the rocker this morning. It is beautiful and an amazing piece of work . . . it will be enjoyed and cherished for years and generations to come.

Sincerely,
C.

Hi Gary,

T. and S. are thrilled with the rocker. S. says it is a work of art.

Thank you for taking such special care of everything. S. said W.R. was asleep after two minutes in the rocker.

Thanks again
L.

Dear Weeks Family,

A year into owning one of your rocking chairs, we could not be more delighted. It is, far and away, our most prized piece of furniture. The wood has darkened to a beautiful reddish brown, just as you said it would. The inlaid initials are beautiful. Somehow, miraculously, it seems to be the perfect fit for every body that sits in it. And now you've so generously helped us line up a mover to ship it safely across country in our upcoming move. Your customer service and craftsmanship are outstanding.

Thanks so much,
K.

Hey Gary,

I am rocking away as I type this email. This rocker is more beautiful than I could have imagined. The finish is astounding! And it's absolutely just as comfortable as you've promised it would be.

I'm actually an amateur woodworker myself and will be building a crib and dresser for our new arrival. I'd already intended to use maple, but I'm afraid I'll never be able to achieve the glass-like finish of the rocker. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you again for allowing us to purchase one of your rockers. I trust it will be a valued member our family for many many years to come.

Heh . . . is it bad if the rocker is putting the soon to be daddy to sleep! ;)

N.

Hello Gary,

The rocking chair arrived in perfect condition. The shipping carton looked fine and the delivery man was helpful and efficient getting the box into the house.

I carefully opened the box and gently eased it on one side so I could draw the chair out. I got the wrapping off and was thrilled by the smell of the wood and the smooth touch. It is so simple, elegant, and yet very substantial. It is so comfortable to sit in! The back support is great. There is just no comparison to any rocker I have ever tried.

My hubby is at work now, so he has not tried it yet, but he is in for a treat!

I have never seen such a beautiful, useful chair in all my life.

N.

Thanks for sending the repair kit. And after spending the last 15 years working with wood and appreciating its beauty, you have no idea how much I enjoy your rocker as well as appreciate the craftsmanship.

Take care,
C.

Gary,

It's done. We have made it. The rocker was delivered today and arrived in perfect shape. The freight office was curious, so inquisitive that the driver wanted to unpack to have a look.

I hope the message is spread.

I had to rob the bank to pay € 387. – Tax. So in sum the rocker amounted to € 2300.

The expectations were high. My wife and I were stunned about the beautiful craftsmanship and finish. The touch is almost erogenous. Many thanks to you and your team you introduced by your homepage.

I will report on further experiences in the future.

Thank you so much.

In appreciation
W.

The chair arrived just as we returned home from a ten day trip. Delivery went well, no concerns with the packaging and the chair sits fine. I sometimes walk out of my way just to look at it, pretty from any angle. Fit and finish are flawless.

Thanks
D.

Dear Gary,

R. and I want you to know how much we like our new dining room chairs, and how much we appreciate your work. The chairs are so comfortable that we can now enjoy leisurely meals and conversation around the table without having to get up due to soreness from sitting too long. And they are beautiful! The chairs are identical and each one is different. They look and feel the same, but variations in the wood grain give each one an individual character. So in addition to having great seating for us and our guests at dinnertime, we find we have added works of art to our home. The quality of design, craftsmanship, attention to detail and finishing that went into these chairs is apparent whether we are looking at them, sitting in them, or both. We expect they will become family heirlooms and be enjoyed by our successors for generations to come.

Thank you.
R. and J.

Gary

The rocker arrived today and it is beautiful, we are delighted with it. You can tell the quality of the wood and the workmanship. We will take some pictures over the weekend and send them to you.

Thanks a lot
S. and L.

I wanted to say that we enjoyed visiting with you and really appreciate your taking the time to show us around and to let me see your shop. I'm a tool guy and a big user of shop built jigs and I am really impressed with how you have adapted tools to your production process. But we love your art. You have studied wood properties and how they can best be used practically and efficiently to produce beautiful items that are comfortable and everyday usable. It's in the details, how it looks and feels from any vantage point and we know how much work goes into making that happen. We really look forward to having your rocker in our home.

D. and J.

Gary,

The rocker and stool are home and they are SPLENDID. Your workmanship is excellent and the chair is very attractive and comfortable. I am kind of afraid to leave it outdoors! Thanks so much, and I look forward to getting the table when it is ready.

Thank you.
J.

Hi Gary,

I just want to second the comments from S. — the chair is amazingly comfortable, beautiful and well made. I think it makes a great guitar chair!

Regards,
B.

Gary,

Approximately three or so years ago, I received a walnut rocker which you made for me in your shop. I have never gotten around to contacting you and expressing my unwavering delight with this beautiful rocker. It is, of course, optimally comfortable — comfortable for most anyone choosing to sit in it. I have difficulty sitting in the rocker, because I'd rather look at it, being the elegant, gorgeously crafted piece that it is. At any rate, Mr. Weeks, thank you for a wonderful addition to my home. I, along with my children, and grand children thank you.

R.

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